Iwo Jima photo anniversary.

Feb. 23 is the anniversary of a technically imperfect photograph taken in uncontrolled circumstances. The person who took the image couldn't see very well and didn't even use a viewfinder: he guessed. Despite its flaws, this image is an indelible part of 20th-century history. Somehow, people actually liked this image.

The perfect photograph has yet to be taken though Bresson, Weston, Frank, Adams, Davidson have all come close. This Iwo Jima image is less than perfect technically but powerful because the sloppy technique actually works in this image to help convey the feel of the moment which was actually recreate for the picture. Just shows that technique is not the end all to a great photograph. The Capa D-Day landing images are also great example of how technically flawed images and by mistake captured the feel of the landing in a way that a technically perfect image might not have been able to. In fact those images inspired Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan.

DC Fan wrote in post #16710775
Feb. 23 is the anniversary of a technically imperfect photograph taken in uncontrolled circumstances. The person who took the image couldn't see very well and didn't even use a viewfinder: he guessed. Despite its flaws, this image is an indelible part of 20th-century history. Somehow, people actually liked this image.

Yeah, liked it so well they built a monument based on it. And if my memory serves me correct, the Marines from 8th & I do an evening parade there every Tuesday during the summer. Well worth seeing I might add.